A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Effect of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin on Functional Outcomes in Anemic, Critically ill, Trauma Subjects: The Long Term Trauma Outcomes Study

Publication/Presentation Date

4-1-2012

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Achieving a higher hemoglobin (Hb) level might allow the anemic, critically ill, trauma patient to have an improved outcome during rehabilitation therapy.

METHODS: Patients with major blunt trauma orthopedic injuries were administered epoetin alfa or placebo weekly both in hospital and for up to 12 weeks after discharge or until the Hb level was >12.0 g/dL, whichever occurred first. The 36-question Short Form Health Assessment questionnaire (SF-36) was used to evaluate physical function (PF) outcomes at baseline, at hospital discharge, and at several time points posthospital discharge.

RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients were enrolled (epoetin alfa [n = 97], placebo [n = 95]). Hb increased from baseline to hospital discharge in both groups (epoetin alfa: 1.2 g/dL vs placebo: 0.9 g/dL), and transfusion requirements were similar between groups. Both groups showed improvements in SF-36 PF; there were no significant differences in the average of all posthospital discharge scores (epoetin alfa: 27.3 vs placebo 30.9; P = 0.38). Thromboembolic events were similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: No differences were observed in physical function outcomes or safety in anemic, critically ill, trauma patients treated with epoetin alfa compared with placebo.

Volume

203

Issue

4

First Page

508

Last Page

516

ISSN

1879-1883

Disciplines

Critical Care | Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Orthopedics | Other Medical Specialties | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Statistics and Probability | Surgery | Trauma

PubMedID

22177550

Department(s)

Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery Faculty

Document Type

Article

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